Sir: The stalemate issue of whether Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of Kashmir or not has been under scrutiny in various awareness platforms, seminars as well as within the regions including GB, Kashmir and Pakistan since last seven decades.
Until recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has clearly declared GB a part of disputed State of Kashmir, hence, tied its future to the resolution of United Nation, which is meant to conduct a plebiscite among the residents of the defunct State of Jammu & Kashmir to decide their future.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned facts, Sartaj Aziz Committee, during PML-N government, had – after probing the matter and taking into account all the aspects of the issue in consultation with all stakeholders – recommended that GB be given: a representation in Parliament; accommodation in constitutional institutions, like NFC, NEC, CCI extra; opportunity to establish a circuit bench of SC in GB ; and all due fundamental rights which 1973’s constitution guarantees to every citizen of Pakistan. Earlier, all these recommendations were incorporated in the decision of judgement pronounced by the SC in the petition of Al-Jihad Trust versus federation of Pakistan 1999.
Regrettably, the recommendations of said committee couldn’t be implemented due to political chaos resulted by the ouster of Nawaz Sharef. What transpired after the chaos was a promulgation of the GB Order 2018, which instantly became controversial, led to protestations calling for its annulment.
After the effective narrative of SC pertaining to the provision of due rights in near future, it is need of the hour for the populace of region to support and emphasize all the leaders of respective dominating political parties to play their major role in this regard.
ZAHID ALI ZOHRI
Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan